The People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) was the active military wing of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) during the Namibian War of Independence. It sought independence for the territory (then South West Africa, now Namibia) from South African rule. PLAN was first attacked by the South African military at Ongulumbashe in northern Namibia on 26 August 1966. Operation Blouwildebees was launched by the South African police catching the PLAN Comabatants by surprise. Throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, PLAN launched attacks from bases in Zambia then later Angola. PLAN was integrated into the Namibian Defence Force upon independence in 1990.